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Have you ever loved a dog, a work of art, any part of Venice past, present or yet to be discovered?
Call me Piccolo. So begins the tale of a young artist who just happens to be an Italian greyhound. In Piccolo's first artworld adventure, he leaves his native Venice to solve the mystery of his father's disappearance in the City of York they call New. Eager to make art, Piccolo is soon thrown off his father's trail when a great American sculptor offers him a space in his Brooklyn studio. Duped by his own desire, Piccolo labors for neither fame nor fortune--until his baptism by the fire of a hot chili pepper ignites his career. But it is only after his return to Venice will Piccolo meet the spirits that haunt its Grand Canal and make the greatest discovery in art of all time.
The writing is smart, sly, and very effective, and I found myself laughing out loud at the sheer verve and nerve of the narrative and the voice. In a sea of standard mysteries and genre books, this one clearly stands out." --Writer's Digest Competition Review
Celebrating artistic pursuits... with a clear sense of whimsy as canine characters enjoyably lap up wine, sing Frank Sinatra tunes, and yearn for romance. Along the way, the author also effectively skewers the modern-day art world--particularly its use of interns. Ultimately, this book is most effective as a joyful appreciation of Venice and great art.--Kirkus Reviews
Skillfully the author weaves in artworld enticements and disappointments with such twists of humor and layers of insight that readers get a chance to feel what it might be like to crave success in that mad race to be part of the NYC art scene.--Arteidolia
Amazon Verified Reader Reviews: ...The tone of the book charms from the get-go. The whimsical storyline takes you from Venice to Brooklyn and back on the tale of a canine character named Piccolo who's a chainsaw-wielding sculptor (it runs in his family). It's hilarious... Catherine A. Oden 2023
I absolutely loved the first-person narrative through the voice of our canine protagonist and could not put the book down, reading it well into the night! It touched on themes important to many of us: family, love, and belonging. Ava Richardson 2023
What a creative and wonderful story of an Italian greyhound named Piccolo Fortunato, who begins his life in Venice, travels to America on a grand adventure in search of his father, and returns to his home again, having learned much of the world and himself. Piccolo hails from a line of distinguished Italian greys, and he has much to live up to. As he embarks on his journey, he experiences hilarious encounters (such as discovering hot dogs). As Piccolo loves art, readers are also introduced to artwork in Venice and New York. The story is humorous, heartwarming, and heartbreaking at moments, and overall, highly entertaining. As the dog mom of two Italian greyhounds, I was really excited to read this and was not disappointed. I was immediately drawn to Piccolo, his feisty determination (true to Italian greyhounds in general), and all the interesting characters we meet along the way. Megan Lee 2023
